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Ferrell's folks join HBO gym

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Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Prods. has scored its first pilot order as HBO has given the green light to a single-camera comedy pilot from the producing duo.

Written by Jody Hill, Ben Best and Danny McBride, the untitled project centers on a burned-out former pro baseball player (McBride) who returns to his small Southern hometown where the only job he can find is as a substitute gym teacher.

Hill will direct the pilot, which Ferrell and McKay are executive producing.

The comedy, previously known as "P.E.," was the first TV project shopped by Gary Sanchez after it was formed in the fall. The pitch triggered a bidding frenzy, landing at HBO with what was said to be one of network's richest development deals (HR 9/20).

Hill, Best and McBride wrote and starred in the indie kung fu comedy "The Foot Fist Way," which was acquired by Gary Sanchez under the company's first-look deal with Paramount Vantage.

On the feature side, Ferrell and McKay most recently worked together on the summer blockbuster "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," which the two wrote, McKay directed and Ferrell starred in. Ferrell now stars in another sports comedy hit, "Blades of Glory."

Ferrell, Hill, Best and McBride are repped by CAA. McKay is repped by Endeavor.